New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-19
THE MISSOURI MILITIA.

Missouri is threatened with the disarmament
of her citizen soldiery through the action OF
the State Legislature in refusing to indemnify
the regiments which did such important pub
lie service DUNG the great strikes 1t is to
be hoped that some means will be found OF
averting this misfortune and at the same time
of reoifying the serious error of the Lcgislat-
ure Nothing moro calculated to arrest the
progress of Missouri could happen than the
dissolution of her militia under the circum-
stances, for it would everywhere be believed
that the Legislature had sacrificed the safety
and the interests Of the whole State TO the
persistent clamoY of small minority of hot
headed men who take the wholly untenable
position that there ought to bc no State inter-
ference with any violence or outrage perpe-
trated during labor strikes. There can be no
doubt rs to the issue of such contention.
II in an State the law-defying clement SO
COTS the upper hand of the Legislature as to
impenl all measures for militia relief and APP
preparation, the business OF that State will be-
gin to decline and its prosperity to diminish.
Capital will be withdrawn from any region
the people Of which deny to it the protection
guaranteed by the Constitution, and those who
are endeavorng to override the laws will
sooner or later find that the main effect OF
their policy is to paralyze all industries and to
leave labor without the means Of maintenance.
No government however democratic. can
prosper without the guarantee Of paramount
force for use in tho final resort as support
to the laws The American militia is the
best and most trustworthy representative OF
this principle. 1t avoids the dangers and ex-
penscs inseparable from standing armies. 1t
provides necessary recourse in the event OF
domestic instruction or foreign aggression.
The sentiment Of hostility to the militia is in
compatible with loyalty to the republican sys-
ten of government. 1t is expression in
fact OF enmity to all the methods whereby law
and order are preserved. In the absence of
the militia it is clear that there can be no
security against the most serious and wide
spread disturbances and the most destructive
attacks upon property. Already, owing to the
iemagogy of some officials here and there.
capital has been driven to the hire of mcr-
cenaries for Its defence In Missouri. if the
Legislature continues on its present course, the
extension of that practice must become the
only alternative in many cases, with the en-
tire cessation of business.
Inc SUBJECT, however, Is one inc interest OF
which is not confined to any one class. 1t
concerns the whole community wherever it is
introduced. The consequences involved in
legislative action leading to the disarmament
of the militia 60 to the very roots Of the whole
existing fabric of society. 1t is not TO be sup
posed that property-owners will cease to de-
fend what they possess because the State re-
fuses to perform its duty to them They win
assnredly make no such surrender of their
rights. But they will he compelled in such a
case, II they do not choose to withdraw alto
gether, or il withdrawal is impracticablc, to
organize forces for their own protection and
this means revcrsion to private war and the
loose and insecure social system Of the
Middle Ages. 1t is upon this dangerous path
that the Legislature Of Missouri appears to
have entered, and its progress must be watched
with misgiving and -disapproval The main
tenance Of law and the preservation Of order
are the first duties Of every government and
il it abandons or refuses to support the arm
upon which 1t must depend for authority to
execute lis DEGREES at the most critical junct-
ures, 1t invites lawlcssncss and bctrays its
own citizens in the most faithles manner.